Verb Ballets appeared a year ago in a cabaret setting at Akron Civic Theatre, a Knight Arts grantee, with considerable success. And they are coming back on March 27, much to the delight of modern ballet lovers, in a production called “Elements.”

Using the basic elements of earth, fire, wind, and water as their guide, the program will feature two new works by Verb Ballets’ Associate Director, Richard Dickinson (Ohio Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Boston Ballet), a revival of a Heinz Poll dance (founder of the Ohio Ballet and namesake of the annual Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival at which Verb Ballets appears regularly), and a collaborative work led by Sara Whale.

As director of the ballet Dr. Margaret Carlson says,  “The unique opportunity at the Civic provides with the community a chance to be immersed in the action and see the dancers up close. It is wonderful to hear how much people enjoy being part of the experience when they get to sit on stage.”

Using the notion of singing songs beside the campfire out on the range, Dickinson will presents “Cowboy Soul.” It is being described as a new playful ballet that combines the swagger of motion picture legend John Wayne and the discipline of classical ballet, and shapes it to the instrumental versions of the greatest cowboy songs.

Where does such inspiration come from? Well, Dickinson grew up in Arizona and California where these songs were part of his experience. He sought to challenge himself to create a light-hearted ballet to the iconic songs of the west – and no doubt as a nod to his upbringing.

Verb Ballets will revive what it calls quite rightly the lighter-than-air duet from Heinz’s Poll, “Wings and Aires.” The pas de deux with modern movements is a Poll classic set to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No. 4.”

Next, Verb Ballets is collaborating to present an original work inspired by the largest earthly mammals, whales, which will be set to composer George Crumb’s “Vox Balaenae.” Sara Whale is arranging the work. The dancers, we are told, will interpret the evocative and unusual timbres to create a vivid oceanic imagery that is both majestic and serene. Knowing Verb Ballets, you can count on the group coming through.

Verb Ballets. Photo by Mark Horning

Lastly, Dickinson will present the Akron premiere a new work inspired by the historic final voyage of the coal-fired ship, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. Set to an original composition by Geoffrey Peterson, the work paints a vivid and haunting portrait of the legendary and mysterious shipwreck. The ballet follows the tragic story of the ship embarking and the battle invoked by gale force winds. Then pays homage to 29 crewmen who lost their lives that day.

Verb Ballets will present “Elements” at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 27, on the main stage at Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St., Akron; 330-253-2488; www.akroncivic.com. Tickets are $25 ($5 for students).